Desk calendar construction



March 1957 F. s. ELLIOTT, JR 2,783,565

DESK CALENDAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 10, 1956 INVENTOR. FRANK S.ELLIOTT, JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patento i DESK CALENDAR CONSTRUCTION Frank S.Elliott, Jr., Creve Coeur, Mo., assignor to Skinner & Kennedy Company,St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 10, 1956,Serial No. 558,229

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-420) This invention relates to desk calendarconstructions in general and to rocker calendar constructions inparticular.

Prior rocker calendars were made from a pad holder having integral endsections with rounded bottoms. The necessary weight required to keep therocker calendar in an upright position was attached to the integral unittransversely along the bottom portion of the pad holder between the endsections. The difliculty with this construction was that it required anexpensive mold to make the integral pad holder and end sections, it useda relatively large quantity of plastic material, and required a weightto be attached in some suitable fashion by separate securing means.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide arocker calendar wherein the weight itself and the pad holder form theconnecting means between separate end sections.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means forsecuring a pad holder to separate end sections.

Another object is to provide end sections with locking means thereon forsecuring a weight and a pad holder therebetween in fixed assembledrelation.

Another object is to provide a pad holder having upper and lower lockingmeans which cooperate with locking means on separate and spaced endsections. This pad holder is easily removable and can be replaced asdesired, such as from year to year.

Another object is to provide a knock-down construction which can beshipped in relatively fiat or knockeddown form. Still another object isto provide a construction wherein a separate pad holder is firmly heldin fixed relation against vertical or horizontal move-' ment withrespect to the end sections and wherein the weight performs the functionof a weight and a connector between the end sections.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

This invention is embodied in a desk calendar construction comprisingtwo end sections connected by. a weight with a pad holder secured tosaid end sections.

This invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In theaccompanying drawing which forms part of this specification and whereinlike 2,783,565 Fatented; Mar.

' the slot between the boss and the flange into which the:

numerals and symbols refer to like parts wherever they 'Fig. 4 is across-sectional view taken along the use 44'of Fig. 2 with the padholder removed and shows' locking tongue of the pad holder projects,

. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the weight or connector bar,

Fig. 6 is aplan view of the pad holder with the month sheets removed,and

'Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the top portion of the endsection showing the locking members in greater detail.

-Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that thepresent desk calendar construction is formed,

from four separate parts, namely, two end sections 1, a connector orweight bar 2, and a pad holder 3.

Each end section 1 is provided with'a relatively flat rocker end 4having a generally curved rocker bottom 5- with a small centralrelatively flat portion 6 on which the calendar rests in its normalupstanding position. An upstanding flange 7 extends inwardly from eachrocker end 4 substantially perpendicular thereto but inclined slightlyrearwardly, preferably about twenty degrees from vertical. The upperportion of said upstanding flange 7 is provided with a pair ofrearwardly extend-ing resilient locking buttons or rivets 8 havingenlarged portions 9 with sloping surfaces 10 thereon and an undercutportion 11 formed in the stem 12 thereof for receiving the padholder 3.The undercut portion 11 is slightly greater than the thickness of thepad holder 3 which rests flush,

on the rear surface of said flange 7. These resilient pro-'- jections 8have a slit 13 therebetween so that they can be forced together therebyclosing said slit 13 and allowing an opening in the pad holder 3 to heslipped there-v over, after which said projections spring outwardly to.their normal position best shown in Fig. 2. The inner face 14 of therocker end 4 is provided with a cylindrically shaped boss 15 in thelower portion 16 thereof and.

adjacent to the curved rocker bottom 5. In the embodiment shown, eachend 1 is symmetrical and the boss 15. is positioned substantially alongthe vertical geometric axis thereof. The boss ,15 is provided withacircular hole 17 which forms a socket18 for receiving the end of theweight or connector bar 2. A rib 19 connects the innermost portions ofthe boss 15 and the upstanding flange 7,, thereby forming a lockingslot20 therebetween, which is' slightly wider than the thickness of padholder material. The lower forward face of the flange 7 is provided withan inwardly extending sheet retainer 21 which extends inwardly from theinner face 14 of the end section 1.

The pad holder 3 is. best shown in Fig. 6 and may be made from anysuitable sheet material. such as paperboard or plastic if desired. Thepad holder 3 is pro,- vided with an. upper advertising area 22 havingtwo flange when the calendar is assembled. The openings 23 are slightlylarger than the projected area ofeach set of buttons 8 after they havebeen forced together to close the slit 13. The upper -area'22 of the padholder 3. has a small overhanging portion 24 at each end whose outeredge 25 is preferably in vertical alignment withthe outer face 26 of therocker end 4. A pad of month sheets 27 is secured to the pad holder'3 bymeans of staples 28 or other suitable fastening means. A locking tongue29 projects downwardly from each outer edge of the pad holder 3 formedby a notch 30: inwardly thereof. Each locking tongue 29is providedwith-an:

outer edge 3l whi ch con tac ts the-rocker end 4 and-an. inner edge 32which contacts the rib 19 thereby. preventing lateral movem ent in. alldirections. .The upper, per. tion of each notch 30 on the rib 19.

forms a seat 33 whichrests The weight connector 2 may be made from anysuitable heavy material and may be of any "type of cross section so longas the end portions 34 thereof are adapted to cooperate with and be heldfirmly in the socket 18 in each end section 1. In practice, a suitableweight has been found to be an ordinary steel rod about inch indiameter. This rod 2 can be provided with a decorative coating 35 eitherof a plastic material or paint so that .the connector bar will be of adesired pleasing color and will not detract from the appearance of therocker calendar.

The end sections :1 are preferably made from a plastic or rubbermaterial which can be molded withoutdifficulty. Polyethylene plasticmaterial has been found -to give especially good results since it isresilient so as to firmly receive and grip the ends ofthe connector earand provide resilient locking mcans,- cannot be broken, and resistsmarking, cracking, or splitting in the event the calendar isaccidentally dropped.

To assemble a rocker calendar embodying this invention from the fourmain pieces, the ends 34 of the connector bar 2 are inserted into thesockets i8 oftwo opposite end sections 1 thereby forming a rigidthree-piece assembly for receiving the pad holder 3. The pad holder 3 issecured to the three-piece assembly by inserting the locking tongues 29into the slots 20 in the end sections 1 between the bosses 15 and theupstanding flanges 7 until the seats 33 of the notches 30 abut againstthe upper surface of the rib 19 in the end section 1. The holes 23 inthe pad holder 3 are then pushed over the resilient locking members 8which because of the sloping surfaces 10 of the enlarged portions 9 areautomatically forced together thereby closing said slits 13 and allowingthe pad holder 3 to be positioned in flat contacting relation with therear surface of the upstanding flanges 7, at which time the lockingmembers 8 automatically spring outwardly to their normal positionthereby locking the pad'holder 3 to the'end sections 1. The calendar isthus completely assembled with the retainers 21 automatically holdingthe month sheets 27 in place and preventing said sheets from springingoutwardly as is their inherent tendency.

The pad holder 3 can be easily removed and replaced with another padholder by simply forcing the locking members 8 together to close theslits 13 and pushing the pad holder 3 rearwardly over the enlargedportions '9 thereof. The pad holder 3 is then merely lifted upwardlyleaving the two end sections V1 with the connector bar 2 therebetween.Anew pad holder ,may then be inserted as previously explained.

The rocker calendar embodying the present invention capnot tip over andalways automatically rights itself. If it is accidentally struck withsufficient force .to knock it over, the calendar merely tilts or tipsbackwardly or forwardly and then rocks to its normal position as shownin Fig. 1 wherein the pad holder 3 is slightly rearwardly inclined forbetter visibility. The lower portion '36 of the pad holder 3 ispositioned forwardly of the connector bar 2 to conceal the bar 2 and thetop edge 37 of the pad holder 3 is rearwardly of the bar 2.

With the present construction, the weight itself forms the co nect ng ma s b n t e epa a end se t nshe red holder also h p to form a n a y rigd cont uct nce h p d h e secu ed t he top portion of each upstandingflange and is provided with a downwardly projecting locking tongue ateach lower corner which fits into a slot in each end section therebyholding the parts rigid against horizontal or vertical movement.Obviously, the precise fastening means may be var'iedwithout departingfrom this invention.

invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of theexample of thednvention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure,which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What I claim is: a

l. A rocker calendar comprising a pair of spaced end sections eachhaving a curved bottom portion adapted to rest on a supporting surface,said end sections each having an inwardly extending upstanding flangewith upper locking means thereon and a socket positioned in the lowerportion thereof above said curved bottom portion, said end sections eachhaving a slot adjacent to said flange, a connector weight bar positionedabove the level of the curved bottom portions and out of contact withsaid supporting surface and having end portions mounted in said sockets,and a pad holder, said pad holder having upper locking means thereon forcooperating with the upper locking means on said upstanding flanges anddownwardly projecting tongues which fit into said slots.

2. A rocker calendar comprising a pair of spaced ,end sections eachhaving rocker end with a curved bottom portion adapted'to rest on a fiatsupporting surface, said end sections each having an inwardly extendingupstanding flange with upper locking means thereon positioned above thelevel of said rocker ends and a socket positioned in the lower portionthereof above said curved bottom portion, said end sections each havinga slot positioned adjacent to said flange, a connector bar having endportions mounted in said sockets, said connector bar being above thelower level of said curved bottom portions'iand .out .of contact withsaid supporting surface, and a pad holder, said pad holder having upperlocking means thereon for cooperating with the upper locking means onsaid upstanding flanges and projecting tongues which fit into saidslots, said pad holder being inclined so that the lower portion thereofis positioned forwardly of said connector bar and the top edge thereofis positioned rearwardly of said connector bar.

3. A rocker calendar comprising a pair of spaced end sections eachhaving a rocker end with a curved bottom portion, said end sections eachhaving an inwardly extending upstanding flange with rearwardlyprojecting spaced locking buttons thereon each having an enlargedportion with sloping surfaces, each of said end sections having aninwardly extending boss positioned adjacent to the bottom of said rockerend, said boss having a socket therein, a transverse rib positionedbetween said boss and said flange and spaced from said rocker endthereby forming a slot therebetween, a connector bar having end portionsmounted in said sockets, and a pad holder, said pad holder having upperopenings adapted to be pressed over the sloping surfaces of said spacedlocking buttons thereby forcing said buttons together until said padholder has passed over said enlarged portion ,and is fixedly secured tosaid upstanding flange, and notches in the lower edge of said pad holderforming downwardly projecting tongues which fit into said slots betweensaid bosses and said flanges with the upper portion of said notchesseating on said ribs.

4. A rocker calendar comprising a pair of spaced end sections eachhaving .a rocker end with a curved bottom portion, said end sectionseach having an inwardly extending rearwardly inclined flange with upperlocking means thereon and an inwardly extending boss positioned in thelower portion of said rocker end and rearwardly of the lower portion ofsaid inclined flange, said boss having a socket therein, a transverserib positioned between said boss and said flange and spaced from saidrocker end thereby forming a slot therebetween, a connector bar havingend portions mounted in said sockets, and a'pad'holder, said pad holderhaving upper locking means thereon for cooperating with the upperlocking means on said upstanding flanges and notches in the lower edgethereof forming downwardly projecting References Cited in the file ofthis patent tongues on said pad holder which fit into said slots UNITEDSTATES PATENTS with the upper portions of said notches seating on saidribs and the outer edges of said tongues being in con- 626356 Web}, June1899 tacting relation with said ribs and said rocker ends. 5 1972'0241934 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,453 Great Britain Sept. 13, 1898 45,810 FranceSept. 23, 1935

